Electrify Europe 2018

Mario Bachhiesl
Head of Renewables and Distributed Generation, Health & Safety
VGB PowerTech e.V.


At present, I am heading the department “Renewables and Distributed Generation” at VGB PowerTech e.V. (VGB) with the focus on hydropower, wind energy and biomass. VGB as the international technical association for generation and storage of power and heat – is facing the challenges of the energy transition in Europe and is therefore intensifying its work predominantly in the field of hydropower. As a result an expanded focus regarding techno-economic and energy policy aspects is taken into account and a new structure, extended key activities and more personnel resources have already been implemented to manage the forthcoming challenges. In the past two years VGB has significantly strengthened and further extended its activities and services, particularly in hydropower. VGB PowerTechHydro aims at  performing as the collective European platform for operators, manufacturers and suppliers of hydropower plants,  being the first address for interested parties in technical, ecological and strategic issues concerning hydropower and  functioning as information platform for the hydropower community in Europe. Currently, VGB PowerTechHydro provides a growing platform of 74 operators representing about 64,000 MW of installed capacity and 3 hydro-equipment manufacturers to share experience and knowledge at a high level of expertise. To become the collective European information platform of hydropower, VGB PowerTechHydro is strengthening the cooperation with EURELECTRIC, with several national associations and with the hydro-equipment suppliers in order to promote the position of hydropower in Europe. This comprehensive expertise will form the basis to represent the common interests of all hydropower stakeholders (operators, hydro-equipment manufacturers and service providers of hydroelectric facilities) on a European level. All techno-economic and environmental issues as well as aspects of energy policy should and will be covered.

Sessions :